MPs warn over takeover debt

An inquiry into football by a group of MPs has called for rule changes to prevent new owners saddling clubs with huge amounts of debt.

The recommendations by the all-party Parliamentary Football Group would, if implemented, prevent similar takeovers to the Glazer family at Manchester United and Tom Hicks and George Gillett at Liverpool.

The MPs, who have no power to enforce any changes, also want loans to clubs by owners such as Chelsea's Roman Abramovich to be treated as debt.

In their report on English Football & Its Governance, the MPs say the current 'Fit and Proper Persons' test should be changed so that it also takes into account whether any prospective new owner is preparing to raise debt on the club's assets.

Other recommendations include for English football to adopt FIFA president Sepp Blatter's 6+5 rule for a maximum of five foreigners in any starting XI.

Group chairman Alan Keen MP said: "We are saying that before someone can take over a club they have to pass a test, and should be financing the takeover on money they put in and not on debt.

"We are worried about incidents where people have taken over clubs such as Manchester United where the Glazers, who have never in the past shown any interest in football, and used the club's assets to secure loans for the takeover.

"If people come into a club simply to make money, or just gives the club a loan, we are worried that at some point they will take it out and threaten the existence of that club.

"A lot of money goes from the Premier League down into the grass-roots and if someone comes in purely to make money they might decide they do not want to give any more money to the Football Foundation.

"Clubs are not mere companies and Manchester United is different from British Home Stores. Supporters feel they own the club. They deserve more than clubs just being cash cows."

Copyright (c) PA Sport 2009, All Rights Reserved.

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